Lubricator.



Mantn-July 5, 1910.?

Ll vl LUBmcAToB.

APPLIUATIOI FILED JUNE 1Q, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINSEY VESTAL I-IOOD, OF GAIL, TEXAS.

LUBRICATOR.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, LINsnY Vns'rAL HOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gail, in the county of Borden and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in lubricating devices and more particularly to a device of this class which is adapted to be secured in the hub of a vehicle wheel to provide a continuous feed of the lubricant to the axle spindle, or may be used as a manually operated feed with very light lubricant.

.A further object is to provide a cylindrical cup or barrel in which is slidably mounted a follower plate to force the lubricant from the lower end of the cup, said plate being moved downward by the rotation of a spiral spring in the coil of which the plate is disposed.

A further object is to provide an extremely simple and etlicient device of this class which may be securely closed by a suitable cap, the upper end of the spring being extended through the same and provided with a suitable thumb piece by means of which it may be rotated.

IVith these and other objects in view, the

present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the severa-l views, Figure l is a vertical section through the hub of a vehicle wheel, showing my improved lubricating device located therein. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the follower plate, and Fig. 5 `is an enlarged section of the upper end of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a vehicle hub which may be of any ordinary or approved construction and in which is centrally disposed the bushing 2. The spin- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application le'd .Tune 10, 1909.

dle 3 of the vehicle axle is disposed within the bushing, and the vehicle wheel is rotatively mounted upon the same.

My improved lubricating device is located in the inner end 0f the hub l and extends through the same, the lower end thereof contacting with the bushing 2, in which is formed the oriiice 2 centrally disposed below the lubricator.

The lubricator comprises a cylindrical cup or casing 4c, open at each end and provided with the closure cap 5 which is threaded therein. Located at diametrically opposite points in the cylinder casing are the vertical grooves 6, which are adapted to receive the lugs 8 formed upon the periphery of the follower plate 7. A spiral spring 8 fis disposed within the casing, and the plate l7 is provided with a spiral groove 7 formed in its periphery and is adapted to receive the coils of the saring 8, the lugs' 8 of the plate projecting through the same upon each side and entering the grooves G formed in the casing. The upper end of the spiral spring 8 extends vertically above the grooves 6 in the casing l, and is provided upon its extremity with a suitable thumb piece 9 mounted in the cap 5, by means of which Ithe spring may be rotated, thus moving the follower plate 7 upward or downward within the lubricator casing.

In operation the casing is first lled with the desired lubricating material, and if this is of a heavy thick nature, the follower plate may be adjusted to the lower end of the spring and superposed upon the lubricant, after which the cap is securely engaged upon the cup, and the operation of the device will be automatic as is customary in such construction. If the oil is light and thin, however, after filling the cup, the plate should be adjusted to the upper end of the spring. Then the spring will exert no pressure upon the plate until rotated and normally the plate will be held in stationary position. In order to feed the lubricant, the spring 8 is rotated within the casing by turning the thumb piece 9. It will be seen that as the spring is rotated the follower sol plate 7 will be forced downward in the ver- 105 thus thoroughly lubricating the same and providing for the easier rotation of the ve-y h icle Wheel and greatly reducing thefrictlon.

It Will be understood that vany means may be employed for securing the lubricator casing to the hub of the Wheel, and also that the-manner ofattaching the closurel cap y5 thereto is not essential 'to the proper operation of the device. 'A

When it is desired to refill the lubricator, it is only necessary to .unscreW the closure cap and remove the same together With the spiral springand follower plateltherefrom, and the same maybe filled and the 'spring and cap readjustedto their proper position.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that I have provided a simple and eii'icient device bymeansnof Which the axle spindle may be thoroughly lubricated at all times.`

If there is danger of a heavy lubricant .being heated. and thusliable to be overfed by pressure of the spring, thespringmay be adjusted at the startto compressthe plate `.only toa .given` distance, by adjustingthe plate intermediately of the length; of the spring l Myimprov'ed device comprises but a few simple parts Which maybe readily manufactured ata trifling cost, and require no especial skill to. assemble andy secure in position upon the 4vehicle Wheel.;

inner surface of said casing, a closure cap inthe upper end of said casing, a spiral spring having its upper end vertically extended, a follower plate having a peripheral spiral groove adapted to engage with the coils of said spring and located Within the same, oppositely disposed lugs formed integralY with .said plate extending into saaid slots, and a thumb piece upon the upper extremity of said spring for rotating the same. In testimony whereof I afix iny signature, in presenceof tivo witnesses.

LINSEY VESTAL HOOD. Titnesses MIKE EVJONES, HARVEY IV. DALTON. 

